Device for, and method of, supporting a glass panel for forming a frameless glass panel fence

ABSTRACT

A device for supporting a glass panel ( 80 ), the device comprising an anchor member ( 50 ) and a mounting member ( 60 ) having a first portion ( 30 ) and a second portion ( 62 ), the first portion ( 30 ) being adapted ( 34 ) for adjustably mounting the mounting member ( 60 ) relative to the anchor member ( 50 ), and the second portion ( 62 ) being adapted to receive a portion of the glass panel ( 80 ), the second portion ( 62 ) having a means ( 14, 24 ) for locking the glass panel ( 80 ) to the mounting member ( 60 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for, and method of, supportinga glass panel for forming a frameless glass panel fence, such as forswimming pools, balconies and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known frameless glass panel fences are installed by what are known as“inground” methods. One such method includes forming a base of concretefor the fence with a 50 mm wide×100 mm deep channel extendingtherethrough. Compressed rubber blocks are inserted into the channelsand the glass panels are then inserted into the channels to rest on therubber blocks. Each panel is then aligned with other panels and fixed inposition temporarily by wedges and the like in the channel. Epoxy groutis then poured into the channel and left for a few days to set hard tofix the glass panels in position.

The above method has a number of disadvantages. Firstly, in order toalign the glass panels to the correct height, the concrete channel mustbe formed substantially level which is difficult. Whilst adjustment ofeach glass panel height may be performed by adding/removing rubberblocks, this requires realignment and temporary fixing of the panels.These steps are labour intensive, costly and requires considerableskill. The pouring of grout is also labour intensive, costly andrequires a substantial amount of the grouting material. Accuratealignment of the glass panels is also difficult as glass panels arerarely true.

The above inground method also requires the concrete base to bethickened by up to 100 mm on each side of the panels requiring expensiveadditional building materials such as reinforcing steel and concrete.

The inground method also usually requires the ground on each side of thepanel to be tiled up to 6 mm away from the glass panel. A flexiblejointing compound is then used on each side of the panels to allow forexpansion and contraction of the panels. Paving adjacent the glass panelfence also has to be sloped away from the fence as it may allow moistureto be retained adjacent to the fence and cause undesired discolourationof the jointing compound and tiles.

Another known method uses a 170 mm high×50 mm wide clamp which has aslot for receiving the glass panel. The slot includes a singleattachment hole, which is aligned with a corresponding hole in the glasspanel. A bolt is inserted into the aligned holes to fix the glass panelto the clamp. Three such clamps are typically used for each panel. Holesfor receiving the clamps are drilled into a concrete slab ground orfooting. The clamps are then inserted into the holes, temporary fixed inposition, and grouted into position.

The above clamp method has time and cost advantages over the ingroundmethod. However, the clamp method still requires the clamps to betemporary fixed, which is labour intensive. Further, height and lateraladjustment of the glass panels cannot be performed with the clampmethod. Support for the glass panel is dependent on the amount of theclamp embedded into the ground. With the clamp being typically 170 mmhigh, 100 mm of the clamp is typically embedded in the ground, leavingonly 70 mm of support above ground level. Further, a gap of about 30 mmis usually formed between the glass panel and ground when installing,meaning only 40 mm of the clamp material is actually supporting theglass panel. This does not result in a very strong installation.

It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome orat least ameliorate one or more of the prior art disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device for supporting a glass panel,the device comprising:

an anchor member; and

a mounting member having a first portion and a second portion, the firstportion being adapted for adjustably mounting the mounting memberrelative to the anchor member, and the second portion being adapted toreceive a portion of the glass panel, the second portion having a meansfor locking the glass panel to the mounting member.

In a preferred embodiment, the anchor member has an elongated portionand a base. In the preferred embodiment, the mounting member firstportion is adapted to receive the anchor member elongated portion foradjustably mounting the mounting member relative to the anchor member.Preferably, the anchor member elongated portion is threaded. Themounting member first portion preferably includes a correspondinglythreaded portion for engagement with the anchor member threaded portion.

Preferably, the second portion is a slot formed in the mounting member.Preferably, the slot is formed between two side sections of the mountingmember attached to opposite sides of a middle section. The two sidesections preferably each include at least one mounting hole throughwhich an attachment member may pass. A corresponding hole may then beformed in the glass panel. An attachment member, eg. a bolt, may then beinserted through the aligned holes in the side sections and the glasspanel to lock the glass panel in position to the mounting member. Theglass panel preferably rests on the middle section when inserted in theslot. The mounting hole in one of the side sections is preferablythreaded. The mounting hole in the other side section is preferablycountersunk to receive the head of the attachment bolt. Preferably, atleast two spaced corresponding holes are formed in the side sections.

Preferably, the side sections are bolted to the middle section. Themiddle section preferably includes a threaded bore for receiving theanchor member threaded portion.

Preferably, the slot has a width greater than the width of the glasspanel to be supported.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method forsupporting a glass panel to the ground using the above device, themethod comprising

drilling a hole into the ground;

inserting an anchor member into the drilled hole and fixing the anchormember in position;

mounting the mounting member first portion to the anchor member;

placing the glass panel into the mounting member second portion; and

fixing the glass panel to the mounting member via the locking means.

Preferably, the step of mounting the mounting member to the anchormember further includes the step of adjusting the position of themounting member relative to the anchor member.

Preferably, the step of placing the glass panel to the mounting memberfurther includes the step of adjusting the position of the glass panelrelative to the mounting member.

Preferably, at least two of the devices are used to support each glasspanel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by wayof example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1 a to 1 c show (a) elevation, (b) side and (c) bottom end viewsof a first side section of a mounting member of a preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIGS. 2 a to 2 c show (a) elevation, (b) side and (c) bottom end viewsof a second side section of the mounting member of the preferredembodiment;

FIGS. 3 a to 3 c show (a) elevation, (b) side and (c) bottom end viewsof a middle section of the mounting member of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an anchor member in accordance with thepreferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of an assembled mounting member of thepreferred embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 a to 1 c show a first elongated side section 10 of a mountingmember according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Theside section 10 includes four first mounting holes 12 and two secondmounting holes 14. The mounting holes 12 and 14 are all threaded, andtheir function will be explained below.

FIGS. 2 a to 2 c show a second elongated side section 20 of the mountingmember of the preferred embodiment. The side section 20 is similarlyshaped and dimensioned as the side section 10 and includes four firstmounting holes 22 and two second mounting holes 24. The mounting holes22 and 24 are all countersunk at 26 and 28, respectively, and theirfunction will be explained below.

FIGS. 3 a to 3 c show a middle section 30 of the mounting member of thepreferred embodiment. The middle section 30 includes four mounting holes32 and a threaded bore 34 extending from a bottom surface 36 thereof.The function of the mounting holes 32 and threaded bore 34 will beexplained below.

FIG. 4 shows an anchor member 50 of the preferred embodiment. The anchormember 50 includes a threaded elongated portion 52 and a base 54. Thethreaded portion 52 of the anchor member 50 is typically 16 mm indiameter and 50 to 150 mm long. The anchor member 50 is formed by an M16threaded bar with preferably an end being bent to provide the base 54.

FIG. 5 shows an assembled mounting member 60 of the preferredembodiment. The two side sections 10, 20 of the mounting member areattached to opposite sides of the middle section 30 by aligning themounting holes 12, 22 and 32 and inserting bolts (not shown) through thealigned holes. The bolts are threaded into the mounting holes 12 andheads of the bolts are received by the countersinks 26. When assembled,a slot 62 is formed between the side sections 10 and 20. The slot 62 hasa width greater than the width of the glass panel to be supported. Whenassembled, the threaded bore 34 extends downwardly. The mounting member60 is typically 215 mm high.

The method of supporting a glass panel using the mounting member 60 andanchor member 50 will now be described with reference to FIG. 6.

Firstly, a hole 70 is drilled into a concrete slab ground or footing 72.The hole 70 has a diameter (typically 83 mm) greater than the width andthickness dimensions of the mounting member 60 and is typically 50 to150 mm deep. The anchor member 50 is then inserted into the hole 70 withthe threaded portion 52 extending upwardly. The base 54 is fixed inposition with the threaded portion 52 vertical using a high strengthepoxy compound.

The threaded bore 34 of the mounting member 60 is then engaged with thethreaded portion 52 of the anchor member 50 and rotated to apredetermined height relative to the ground. The threaded portion 52 andbore 34 allows for height adjustable mounting of the mounting member 60to the anchor member 50. Lower portions of the mounting member 60 areinserted into the drilled hole 70, typically 10 to 60 mm below theground level.

An 8 mm high compressed plastic block 74 is inserted into the slot 62 torest on the upper surface of the middle section 30. A glass panel 80having two attachment holes (not shown) is then inserted into the slot62 and positioned such that its attachment holes align with the secondmounting holes 14, 24 of the side sections 10, 20. The glass panel 80preferably rests on the plastic block 74 when inserted in the slot 62.Bolts 76 are inserted through the aligned mounting holes 14, 24 andglass panel holes to lock the glass panel 80 to the mounting member 60.The bolts 76 are threaded into the mounting holes 14 and heads of thebolts are received by the countersinks 28.

The height of the glass panel 80 can be adjusted by steps of 2 mm ifrequired by rotating the mounting member 60 relative to the anchormember 50. Finer height adjustment of the glass panel 80 can beperformed by adding to or reducing the thickness of the plastic block74. The gaps between the glass panel and the side sections 10, 20 isfilled with compressed polypropylene packers 78 of between 0.8 and 3 mmthick which allows the glass panels 80 to be accurately positionedlaterally to create a substantially straight line with other panels 80.At least two spaced pairs of anchor members 50 and mounting members 60are used with each glass panel 80.

After panel alignment and height adjustments are completed, each drilledground hole 70 is filled to almost ground level with epoxy compound tolock the anchor members 50 and mounting members 60 in position. Theholes 70 are then topped to ground level with a grout to match theconcrete ground or footing 72.

The preferred embodiment described above has a number of advantages overthe existing methods. For example, in the preferred embodiment, thepositioning and levelling of the glass panels 80 is performed whileinserting and bolting same to the mounting member 60. Accordingly, thisobviates the need to temporary fix the glass panel in position forpouring of the epoxy. Thus, there is less chance for the glass panel tofall over or move.

The preferred embodiment allows a number of adjustments to be performedto allow for different installation site variables and the variablesinherent in glass production. The height of the mounting member 60 fromthe ground can be adjusted by up to 20 mm after the anchor member 50 hasalready been fixed to the ground hole. Also, the mounting member 60allows for the glass panel to be moved laterally toward and away fromthe side sections 10, 20 by up to 4 mm in each side by varying thethickness of the compressed polypropylene packers 78, providing asubstantial amount of adjustment for the glass panel

The preferred embodiment provides better support than existing ingroundsystems which means that even for 1200 mm height glass panels, thepanels are supported more rigidly. The strength of the support providedby the preferred embodiment allows for a gate for the fence to be fixedhingedly to one of the glass panels without the need for additionalsupport posts.

With the currently used epoxy compound and as temporary fixing of theglass panel is not required, installation of the glass panels can beperformed in 1 day, although 2 days are preferable.

The mounting of the glass panels to the preferred embodiment above alsoinvolves less contact with the glass panels compared to the ingroundmethod. This allows the preferred embodiment to cater for expansion andcontraction of the glass panels. Thus, using the preferred embodiment,glass sheets of up to 3600 mm long can be used compared to maximum sheetsizes of 2000 mm for the inground method.

Compared to the existing clamp method described above, the preferredembodiment provides height and lateral adjustment of the glass panels.Further, support for the glass panel is not dependent on the amount ofthe mounting member embedded into the ground. The preferred embodimentallows for a minimum of 120 mm of the mounting member material to holdthe glass and a variable gap of 30 to 75 mm to be formed between theglass panel and ground.

The present invention has been described in relation to supporting aglass panel. It is to be understood however that the present inventioncan also be used for supporting panels made from materials other thanglass.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that theinvention may be embodied in other forms or that modifications can bemade to the above embodiments.

1. A device for supporting a glass panel, the glass panel having atleast one mounting hole at a bottom portion thereof, the devicecomprising: an anchor member; and a mounting member having a firstportion and a second portion, the first portion being adapted foradjustably mounting the mounting member relative to the anchor member,and the second portion being adapted to receive a portion of the glasspanel, the second portion having a means for locking the glass panel tothe mounting member via the glass panel mounting hole(s).
 2. The deviceof claim 1 wherein the mounting member locking means includes at leastone mounting hole formed in the second portion, wherein in use, anattachment member can be inserted through aligned glass panel andmounting member mounting holes for locking the glass panel to themounting member.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the mounting memberincludes two spaced mounting holes for supporting a glass panel havingtwo spaced mounting holes at a bottom portion thereof.
 4. The device ofclaim 3 wherein the mounting member two mounting holes are arranged tobe spaced vertically from each other in use.
 5. The device of claim 1wherein the second portion is a slot formed in the mounting member. 6.The device of claim 5 wherein the second portion includes a pair ofmounting holes formed on opposite sides of the slot for each glass panelmounting hole.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the mounting hole(s) inone side of the slot is threaded to receive a threaded shank of anattachment member.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the mounting hole(s)in the other side of the slot is countersunk to receive a head of theattachment member.
 9. The device of claim 5 wherein the slot has a widthgreater than the width of the glass panel to be supported.
 10. Thedevice of claim 5 wherein the slot is formed between two side sectionsof the mounting member which are attached to opposite sides of a middlesection of the mounting member.
 11. The device of claim 10 wherein themiddle section includes a threaded bore for receiving a threaded portionof the anchor member.
 12. The device of claim 10 wherein the anchormember has an elongated portion and a base.
 13. The device of claim 12wherein the mounting member first portion is adapted to receive theanchor member elongated portion for adjustably mounting the mountingmember relative to the anchor member.
 14. The device of claim 12 whereinthe anchor member elongated portion is threaded.
 15. A method forsupporting a glass panel to the ground using the device of claim 1, theglass panel having at least one mounting hole at a bottom portionthereof, the method comprising: drilling a hole into the ground;inserting the anchor member into the drilled hole and fixing the anchormember in position; mounting the mounting member first portion to theanchor member; placing a portion of the glass panel into the mountingmember second portion; and locking the glass panel to the mountingmember via the glass panel mounting hole(s).
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the mounting member locking means includes at least one mountinghole, and wherein the step of locking the glass panel to the mountingmember includes inserting an attachment member through the glass paneland mounting member mounting holes to lock the glass panel to themounting member.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of mountingthe mounting member to the anchor member further includes the step ofadjusting the position of the mounting member relative to the anchormember.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of placing theglass panel into the mounting member further includes the step ofadjusting the position of the glass panel relative to the mountingmember.
 19. The method of claim 15 wherein at least two of the devicesare used to support each glass panel.
 20. The method of claim 16 whereinthe glass panel includes two vertically spaced mounting holes, themounting member second portion is a slot formed in the mounting member,and the second portion includes a pair of mounting holes formed onopposite sides of the slot for each glass panel mounting hole, whereinthe step of locking the glass panel to the mounting member includes thestep of inserting a respective attachment member through each alignedcorresponding holes of the mounting member and the glass panel.
 21. Aglass panel fence having the support device of claim 1, and a glasspanel having at least one mounting hole at a bottom portion thereofmounted to the device.
 22. The glass panel fence of claim 22 having twosupport devices supporting each glass panel.